Post-doctoral Fellow in Hydrogel-Enabled Peptide Brain Delivery

Ref.: 537604
Work type: Full-time
Department: Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy (21300)
Categories: Senior Research Staff & Post-doctoral Fellow

We now invite applicants to join the JC STEM Lab of Nanomedicine for Advanced Therapy (PI: Professor Khuloud Al-Jamal) at the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy. We are a highly collaborative research team working on an advanced, nose-to-brain hydrogel delivery platform for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases (ND), including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Parkinson's disease (PD). We are looking to recruit highly motivated postdoctoral fellows and/or research staff to design, synthesise and evaluate novel peptide analogues and biodegradable hydrogels capable of bypassing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) for precise, non-invasive brain-targeted therapy.

The aim of our lab is to leverage nanomaterials and biocompatible hydrogel platforms to overcome the limited brain bioavailability, rapid degradation, and systemic side effects that currently restrict peptide-based therapeutics for neurodegenerative disease. Our research spans peptide chemistry, nanomaterial/hydrogel engineering, nose-to-brain (N2B) delivery, and translational in vivo disease modelling, aiming to create real-world impact for patients living with ALS, FTD, AD, and PD.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• The candidate should be competent in peptides and hydrogel syntheses and bioconjugation reactions, along with purification and structural characterisation of synthesised compounds.
• Proficiency is needed in a range of analytical instrumentation, including HPLC, LC-MS, 1H-NMR, gel permeation chromatography, and surface plasmon resonance.
• The role requires hands-on experience designing, cross-linking, and characterising polymer-based nanomaterials and hydrogels, including evaluating physicochemical properties.
• Core biological skills include running ELISA, Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and cell-based binding or activity assays, along with general cell culture technique across different cell lines.
• The candidate should be capable of conducting animal studies, including dosing, biological sample collection, pharmacokinetic sampling, and behavioural assessment, within an ethically approved framework.
• The candidate should work closely with collaborators on model development, sample sharing, and data analysis.
• Prepare study protocols, reports, and contribute to manuscript writing.
• Supervise and mentor undergraduate and postgraduate students.
• Disseminate findings through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.

Requirements:

Education and Expertise:

• Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Molecular Biology, or a related field.
• Strong biological skills with a proven track record of high-quality research involving peptide or nanomaterial-based therapeutics.
• Demonstrated experience in scientific writing and publication.

Research Skills:

• Hands-on expertise in nanomaterials and hydrogel formulation, characterisation, and optimisation.
• Experience in peptide synthesis and bioconjugation chemistry.
• Strong background in brain delivery strategies, including nose-to-brain (N2B) delivery and blood-brain barrier (BBB) targeting.
• Familiarity with neurodegenerative disease biology, particularly neuroinflammation, microglial activation, and neuroprotection mechanisms.
• Proficiency in cell and molecular biology techniques: ELISA, Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and cell culture (neuronal and nasal epithelial cell lines).
• Experience with in vivo rodent models, including pharmacokinetic sampling and behavioural testing.

Desirable Skills:

• Experience with radiolabelling and associated detection techniques such as liquid scintillation counting, autoradiography).
• Experience with analytical instrumentation and analyses software (e.g., HPLC, LC-MS, NMR, and GPC).
• Familiarity with Design-Expert or similar formulation optimisation software.

Administrative and Collaborative Skills:

• Ability to manage a research programme financially and administratively under the guidance of the Principal Investigator.
• Ability to work independently with excellent problem-solving skills, collaborate within a team, and supervise students.
• High attention to detail in experimental design and execution with a willingness to adapt to new procedures and undergo further training as necessary.

Language and Technical Competence:

• Excellent communication, command of written and spoken English.
• Capable of contributing to grant writing and funding applications.
• Proficient in IT skills for efficient data management and communication within the research programme including but not limited to the data management, analysis, and reporting.

What We Offer:

The appointment will commence as soon as possible on a temporary basis for 1 year, with the possibility of renewal subject to funding availability and project progress. A highly competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience will be offered. Other benefits include annual leave, medical benefits and free access to on-campus gyms and libraries.

How to Apply:

The University only accepts online application for the above post. Applicants should apply online and upload an up-to-date C.V. Review of applications will start as soon as possible and continue until January 31, 2027, or until the post is filled, whichever is earlier.

The University is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to equality, ethics, inclusivity, diversity and transparency